Heaven, Earth, Me

Author Note: Sorry for the delay, dears. The scheduling didn't work!

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When Tatyana suggested that she wanted to make a deal with her, Violet raised her eyebrow. She didn't accept straight away because, after the last months of traveling with them, she learned that these people didn't really like making a loss. If she accepted the request, she knew that she was going to grab the shorter end of the stick, which left her with a sour aftertaste. 

Still, before thinking about any of that, Violet decided to hear her out at last. "Speak. I'll think about it after you make the suggestion."

Tatyana smiled, easily seeing through what Violet was thinking. She tapped her chin and commented. "How many allies do you have in this place that you can trust?"

Violet crossed her arms, still not answering. "Why? What are you planning?"

Tatyana looked at her and sighed. "Look, I know you are wary. However, this time around, we are not going to be greedy. We need your people's help to get something for one of us. The rest of the treasures in the area may be better or worse, but we are not that interested." Tatyana pointed at the key Yasenia had and said. "When we open the city, it won't be as simple as opening a door and entering. We need to trigger the formation, which will create an energy ripple."

Tatyana pointed toward the [Ruin World City] and said. "There are a few big bosses over there that I want nothing to do with. Therefore, I am asking you to call your allies to create some sort of coalition that, when we open this place, will be strong enough not to be kicked out by the big bosses."

Violet listened and understood the gist of it. "You want a backer so that you can participate in the treasure hunt that will surge due to us opening the sealed city."

Tatyana nodded. "That's the summary." She grumbled. "To be honest, if I had enough strength, I would swallow everything here myself. However, I am currently too weak to hold back all the Transcendence Realm cultivators roaming this place."

"Tatyana, I have doubts." Yasenia spoke, feeling somewhat confused. "Since you don't have bottlenecks and you can advance without a Heavenly Tribulation, what's stopping you from entering the Sixth Realm?"

Tatyana smiled. "I need a lot of Death Energy. I can either absorb a Death-attributed Natural Treasure to cross this step or create a place where I can slaughter many people and absorb their essence for myself."

Violet clicked her tongue. "No wonder Death Cultivators are seen as demonic cultivators by nature in most places. Your methods are truly violent."

Tatyana shrugged. "I am in a special situation that requires that. A normal Death cultivator can step into the Sixth Realm without killing a single person."

Dandan blinked twice. "How is that possible?"

Tatyana smiled. "Death is made of many things, not just killing. There is the death of the spirit, death of the mind, death of the body, and many others. They are all caused by myriads of reasons, and you can learn about Death without needing to kill people yourself. You can stay by the side of a sickly person or accompany a being at the end of their lifespan. You can observe the weeping of the loved ones and the cheers of their enemies."

Everyone looked at Tatyana with a deep and pondering expression. "This, naturally, doesn't apply only to Death. All concepts are far from simple. They each have a way toward the essence of Heaven, or, as we usually call it, a Dao."

Violet looked at Tatyana closely, and eventually, she sighed. "I accept your proposal. However, I can gather around six Transcendence Realm people at most. With Ayanduin and Gu Chen, we are just eight. There are another eighty or so people we need to worry about."

Tatyana smiled. "Eight is enough. We are not trying to monopolize the place. We are trying to be strong enough to explore it and defend ourselves against other groups." 

Violet hummed. "Well, go ahead and tell me your plan."

In the [Ruin World City], people were murmuring about the same thing. It was probably one of the most impactful news that they had received since the founding of this place.

"Did you hear? They say that the Ruined City will be opened in one month!"

"One month!? How did nobody learn about it before!? I can't call my sect to come here in that short amount of time!"

"Hey, but are the sources reliable?"

"That, we don't know. However, since when have you seen so many people speaking about this at the same time? I feel that it must be the truth this time!" Ｒ

"Can you hear yourself? 'This time' is what you have used. This is probably another stunt by a suicidal power, trying to get the attention of the people for some stupid reason."

"Even if it is a lie, does it hurt to check? What if it was the truth?"

"Ha! And what if it was a trap? People have died in the past because they think as shallowly as you!"

"What did you say!? Shallow!?"

"You heard me! Don't act stupid now as well, or you might not be able to face your ancestors when you reincarnate!"

"I am going to kill you!"

While some people lunged at each other and fought, the higher-ups of the city were gathered in a room while looking at a jade scroll they received anonymously. 

"Sorry, I was late."

Everyone in the room looked over and saw a gorgeous and elegant woman walking in. A man in one of the lead seats commented. "Sect Master Violet, welcome. We have yet to start, so you don't have to worry about it. There are others who are even more tardy than you."

Violet walked to her seat and nodded. "Thank you, Lord Hurricane." 

Lord Hurricane was the person's nickname. However, after so many years of people calling him as such, it was rare for someone to call him by his actual name. His title had become his identity, which was associated with respect and fear by many. 

He was an old-looking man with a long white beard and hair. His disposition was gentle and welcoming. However, many knew that once angered, continents would be swept by his powers.

About half an hour later, all the seats were occupied, and Lord Hurricane started. "We've received an anonymous jade communication talisman. To make sure that no one here is involved with it, we'll do an Energy Harmony Recognition Test. If any of you have created it, we recommend that you come forward honestly. Regardless of whether the contents are the truth, we can speak about things in a respectable manner."

After he spoke, no one stepped forward, and everyone kept looking at him. It was clear that people in the room were all acting as if they were not involved.

Violet looked calm on the outside, but inside, she was somewhat restless. 'I swear, Tatyana, if what you said doesn't work on these fossils, I am going to hunt you as a ghost!'

"Understood." Lord Hurricane nodded. "Let's do it then."

He threw the Jade Communication Talisman to the middle of the table, where it stopped mid-air and started floating. A complex formation analyzed the energy in the talisman, and then, a pulse of energy spread outward. 

It didn't cover just this room. It spread outward and engulfed space beyond the world, spreading through space around one light-year distance from the meeting point.

The horrifying range of the formation made Violet somewhat nervous. She knew Tatyana and the others were inside the planet, so this formation must've hit them. 

After a few moments, Lord Hurricane frowned. "Nothing…" He mumbled, caressing his long beard. "This is troublesome."

A woman between those gathered, looking gorgeous in her yellow robes, commented. "Lord Hurricane, they might've expected one test since they were able to deliver it to us. How about repeating it a few times?" 

Violet, who just relaxed, almost glared at the yellow-wearing woman. 'Don't you understand decorum!? Keep your mouth shut!'

Lord Hurricane hummed. "That's a great suggestion. While a bit expensive, the information in this Jade Communication Talisman is too precious."

Violet thought to herself. 'Ah… This is the end.'

The ripples went out several times during the following week. The Transcendent cultivators stayed in the room, looking at it with patience. For them, a week was equivalent to just a few minutes, so they didn't have a problem standing there like statues looking at the Jade Communication Talisman. 

Violet was nervous at first. However, after the first attempt failed, she completely relaxed. 'It seems that it really worked, as she said. Tsk, they are full of surprises.'

Lord Hurrican shook his head. "It seems that either they are not here, or they are just too good at hiding."

A man spoke up. "Lord Hurricane."

Violet's eyebrow twitched. 'Can these people stay silent and accept things!?'

"Speak." The old man asked gently. 

The man cupped his fist in respect and said. "This kind of thing is probably from a new group, right?" 

Someone protested. "I opine the opposite. Only someone who has been investigating the Ruined City for millennia can come up with such information."

Another one jumped in the conversation. "We have been here for tens of thousands of years without finding anything. Are you suggesting we all lack talent or insight?"

The place suddenly became clamorous as more people expressed their opinions. Violet offered her own two cents: "What if the people have always lived in this city and withheld this information until now?"

Someone shook their head. "Ludicrous! If they get discovered, that would be certain death for them!"

After three days of discussion, Lord Hurricane finally stepped up. "I've heard your complaints. However, since we are unable to reach a conclusion, the best thing we can do is create groups and go to the place that this Jade Communication Talisman says. We are Transcendent Realm cultivators. Even if it is a trap, we can defend ourselves. If it is the truth… Well, it will be a free-for-all. Whoever gets a treasure keeps it."

"I disagree. Might is what gives us authority. We should limit the place and prevent other groups from benefiting from what we've been guarding all this time!"

Lord Hurricane looked as if many people started agreeing and shook his head with a sigh. "Naive! If the person tells us the information, it is because they are not rash and have deep thinking. They could've opened it silently and then entered. Or, even if they couldn't do so silently, they didn't need to warn us. They've done it so that if we get greedy and limit people, the sects behind them will become angry at us! The person who is opening the Ruined City is someone with a meticulous mind. We can't get lost in greed. If you want to get many treasures, then search for them!"